Last night I realized how much the Lord is "carrying" me. Allergies woke me, then worries overcame me. It takes a lot of courage to have major surgery with major allergies. I have to travel several hours to have the cancer surgery and then back home. Also, though the cancer seems to be going into remission, it might just be a five year reprieve. When I read from the scriptures, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” I was able to at last feel at peace and rest. The Lord is my strength. I could not do this without His help.
Right now so many of us are struggling with being restricted to our homes. As a person who feels that the experiences in life are opportunities to learn and grow, I've been wondering what could be learned from this pandemic. For a world that felt pretty confident in our abilities to handle anything, it has been humbling to see how quickly the whole world could be brought to its knees by a tiny virus. Many of us have come to realize how much we not only need others to help us, but how much we need a greater power, we need God's power, to help us survive. We have been given an opportunity to take a look at our lives. Are we spending our time, energies, and money on what matters most to us? How does it feel to spend more time with your family? Are you enjoying not rushing around so much, not feeling so pressured? What do you want to change in your life? Answer your wake up call. Take your chance for a new start.
I've read Isaiah's prophecies of plagues in the last days, but until now with our current world flu epidemic, I always thought it would happen in some nebulous future. It is here now. What is impressing me at this time is how the Lord has prepared us, as members of His church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to deal with these times. We now have a more effective ministering care system in place; adult priesthood holders now meet together, strengthening both groups; church meeting are now only two hours instead of three hours; and many more temples have been and are planned in areas around the world. What I'm particularly impressed with is how President Nelson and his wife last November visited and strengthened the members in the areas in the Far East where travel is now restricted. Also, Church curriculum has been simplified and coordinated, so that parents are now able to teach their children and youth in their own homes. With responsibility for our own spiritual growth transferred from the Church organization to the home, we are prepared to weather whatever storm, or flu, that assails us. The Lord is watching over us and all we need to do is follow his directions to safety.
I've been thinking about this old poem, "And God said, No". It has brought thoughts to my mind about all the time I have spent ill and in bed. At first, I wondered why my pleas to be made well were not answered. As I've grown older, I have seen how my struggles have strengthened my character, helped me gain confidence in my abilities, deepened my relationship with my husband, and built a strong faith in God. Would I trade my hard earned lessons for a life of ease?
This month we faced the prospect of my husband having a serious form of cancer. It made me appreciate him and the time we have here on earth even more. It also made me realize that we can feel peace no matter what happens in our lives. The emotion we did not feel was a fear of death. So much of the world lives in fear of dying, but the Gospel helps us to know that our lives do not end at death. We are assured that we will have our bodies back, whole and immortal, and that we can continue our family relationships.
We are grateful to have been blessed with more time together. We are thankful for the hope we have because of the atonement our Savior provided for us.
(picture taken after he had had several precancerous spots burned off)
10 O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, death and hell, which I call the death of the body, and also the death of the spirit.
11 And because of the way of deliverance of our God, the Holy One of Israel, this death, of which I have spoken, which is the temporal, shall deliver up its dead; which death is the grave.
12 And this death of which I have spoken, which is the spiritual death, shall deliver up its dead; which spiritual death is hell; wherefore, death and hell must deliver up their dead, and hell must deliver up its captive spirits, and the grave must deliver up its captive bodies, and the bodies and the spirits of men will be restored one to the other; and it is by the power of the resurrection of the Holy One of Israel.
Learning to read isn't as dangerous as a trip to the North Pole, but they both take great courage and faith.
Yesterday, my granddaughter and I made a small book together. As a teacher, I recognized that even though she wasn't quite three, she wanted to learn how to read. Also, because I knew her, I knew that she expected immediate perfection and could therefore, become discouraged very easily. So, together, we made a small book using her name which she knew, only one new word "Look" with the o's made into eyes, and using drawings. Later, I told my husband about our experience together and told him that it was so hard just to get her to try. She "knew" she couldn't read and that was that! I knew she could. I have had a lot of experience with reading and with her. I knew she could do it, but she did not. She had never done anything like this before. Finally, after more encouragement, she mustered her courage and tried. What happened? As she turned the last page, to my joy, she declared, "I can read now!"
